Senate leadership says special session depends on deal making (AUDIO)

Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer says there are too many important issues the legislature didn’t take up during the regular session to not call a special session. Mayer says may lawmakers are working outside of session to make deals happen so that a special session will be productive.

One bill he says he wants to make a deal on is House Bill 116. That bill would establish St. Louis International Airport as a hub for Chinese cargo. The Senate’s version has more than 300 million in tax breaks to businesses for hub development. The bill also eliminates or reduces a number of tax credits totalling 1.5 billion over 15 years. The House version would establish a grace period for paying late taxes between August 1 and October 31, 2011.

The second is concerning the electric company Ameren. The company wants to be able to build a second nuclear plant, but how it will be funded is the issue that is hotly contested.

Mayer says lawmakers and outside interests are “inching closer” to these deals, and once those are solidified, he says a special session is imminent. Special session would be in September.